Thursday, October 06, 2005

Freedom of Religion

After my recent post about Pagans and some of their beliefs, I have been inundated by all kinds of news articles about Pagan/Wiccan oriented things.Many of them were events that my Pagan friends thought I might be interested in attending, some were just news articles. One though really caught my eye.It seems that in their infinite wisdom, the Veterans Affairs Dept has decided that, even though the Government and US military has recognized Wicca as a legitimate religion since 1996, Wiccan soldiers can not have the Pentacle emblem, essentially a star within a circle, on their headstone. Many other faiths, including Sufi, Eckankar, Muslim, Buddhist, all have been approved to have their emblem on the headstone of soldiers identifying with those religions.It is shameful that in this country, founded on the principle of religious freedom, a soldier may die for his or her country but can not have the religious emblem of his or her choice on their headstone. No matter one’s personal belief, if the gov’t is going to allow one emblem, they need to allow them all.For additional info goto : http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/243290_pagan04.html

For a complete list, complete with images, of what emblems are currently allowed, go to:

This was a very interesting article. I found it extremely interesting how they are 'not saying no' because that would get them into big trouble, they just aren't responding. I hope they are sincere that when the new procedures are in place and the Wiccans apply under the new procedures that they will be approved. Anything else would be shameful in a country founded on religious freedom!